Bearing for fluid meters



Aug. 19, 1952 c. P. BERGMAN BEARING FOR FLUID METERS Filed Nov.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 vdi ATTORNEYS c. P. BERGMAN BEARING FOR FLUID METERS Mg.` 19,v 1952 -i 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 v Filed Nov. vv1o, 1945 IIO A Trav/vf Ys Aug. 19, 1952 C. P. BERGMAN 2,607,640

l BEARING EoR FLUID METERS Filed Nov. 1o. 1945 4 sheets-sheet 4 IN V EN TOR. Cfr/afs ,Q fnenmv deceased. l by WML/4M K ZL/orr, adminis/ruhr' ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 19, 1952 BEARING FOR FLUID METERS Charles P. Bergman, deceased, late of Brooklyn, N. Y., by William V. Elliott, administrator, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Rockwell Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Pennsyl- Vania Application NovemberA 10, 1945, Serial No. 627,810 (o1. sos- 217) 4 claims. 1

The present invention relates to meters for the measurement of fluid, and relates particularly to the type of meters known as compound meters wherein a small meter is employed for measuring small flows, and a large meter is employed for measuring large flows beyond the capacity of the small meter.

It is an object of the present invention to providev av compound meter in which there is provided a large flow meter and a small ow meter in series, with a valve controlled bypass around the small flow meter, so that the ow at all times passes through the large ow meter.

Another object is the provision in a compound meter having a large oW meter and a small flow meter in series, of a valve located on the down stream side of the high rate of flow meter and controlling the flow therethrough, and a common register provided to be driven by a suitable clutch drive so that the faster moving meter drives the register. i

A further object is the provision in a compound meter, of a valve which is moved completely out of the path of the measured fluid passing through'said large meter when the valve is fully opened.

A further object is the provision of a large volume measuring meter supported in roller bearings of hard rubber on a horizontal axis in the line of iiow.

A further object is the provision of a compound meter in which the working parts are so arranged as to be readily removable from the housing without removing the housing from the line in which it is connected.

A further object is the provision of a compound meter in which the accuracy at the change over point is not impaired.

A further object is the provision of a compound meter having a valve which moves out of the path of uid passing through the large meter so as to reduce the loss of head in the meter.

A further object is the provision in a compound meter of a valve which is opened by a gradually decreasing force.

Another object is the provision of a compound meter which is of simple construction, is compact and of lesser weight-than those heretofore constructed, and which has an increased flow capacity.

In accordance with the present invention, a compound meter having a large flow meter is provided and a small 110W meter in series therewith, a valve on the down stream side of the large ow meter which controls a bypass and opens when a predetermined rate of flow is attained so as to allow substantially the full volume to be measured by the large flow measuring device. This valve is preferably of a type which may move substantially completely out of the stream of fluid through the large flow meter and thus does Y 2 Y not obstruct How therethrough. AThe valve is arranged so that in closed position a greater force is required to open the valve than after the valve is slightly cracked, and the force necessary to further open the valve decreases as the valve opening increases. single register is driven through a suitable one way drive arrangement by either the large flow meter or the small ilow meter, whichever is moving faster.

The invention will be described in greater detail in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention by way of example, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the meter with certain parts illustrated in elevation;

Figure 2 is a top View of the meter with the top cover and small meter removed;

Figure 3 is an elevation of the valve as viewed from the left in Figure l;

Figure 4, is a side view thereof;

Figure 5 is a detail vertical section on line V-V of Figure 6 illustrating a preferred embodiment of the register driving unit;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional View taken substantially on line VI-VI of Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a side elevation partly in section of one form of roller bearing unit for the impeller shaft;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially online VIII-VIII of Figure '7; and

Figure 9 is a View similar to Figure, T showing a modied form of the bearing unit.

Referring to the drawing there isshown a casing comprising a lower part I having an inlet passageway 2, an outlet passageway 3, and a dividing wall 4 therebetween having an orifice 5 therein, and a cover 6 for the casing having an extension 1. The body has any internal shoulder 8 surrounding the inlet 2 and suitably apertured lugs 9 and I0 (Fig. 2) extend from the interior of the casing". A cylindrical impeller housing I3 is located in the casing I with one end seated on the shoulder 8, and is held in position by bolts I5 extending through apertured lugs I'I and I3 on the outside of the housing I3, and threaded into the lugs 9 and III. The impeller housing has an end wall 22 provided with a central hub 2I, the hub being bored to receive a roller bearing unit 23 of suitable construction, and which bore has its outer end closed by a plug 24 having a pressed t. The opposite end of the impeller housing has a cylindrical extension 23 secured thereto in any suitable. manner, as by screws 29, and has ribs or spokes 30 rounded on the forward edge and which carry a hub 3 I, that is bored to receive a suitable roller bearing 32..A

The roller bearings 23 and 32 are preferably of the cage ltype as shown in Figures 7 or 9 of the drawings. As seen in Figure 7, theroller cage33' has end walls 34 connectedy by spaced longitudi- In this arrangement al f 3 nally extending webs 35 of triangular form in cross-section. Bearing rollers 350 of hard rubber are rotatably disposed between the spaced webs 35 and have conical end portions S@ opposed to the end walls 34 of the cage. The rubber rollers 35B provide elongated anti-friction bearings in which the shaft 3d is journalled. This shaft carries the impeller 3-7 of the large flow meter.

As seen in Figures l and S-of the drawings the hard rubber rollers of the bearing unit are of greater diameter than the shaft 3B, and therefore of relatively large surface area to reduce wear to a minimum with the use of a comparatively lsmall number of rollers. Thus a very rugged roller and cage construction is provided, and it has been found by test that hard rubberis the only nonmetallic material having the requisite wear rey sistant properties and resistance to swelling when submerged in water or other liquids.

It will also be seen that by the provision of the conical ends 3M on the bearing rollers, in inserting the cage at either end thereof over the end of shaft the latter will engage the conical surfaces of the rollers and urge the same outwardly .between the spaced webs rof the cage to their operative positions for single point axial thrust kcontact of the conical roller ends against the internal surfaces of the end walls 3d of the cage.

In Figure 9 of the drawings an alternative form of the roller bearing unit is illustrated, in which the cage 33 has a centrally located wall 3i and two sets ofrelatively short hard rubber rollers of substantially the same form as those shown in l Figure 7 are adapted to bemounted in the cage at relatively opposite sides of the 'wall 34', with the rollers in one set disposed in .staggered relation to the rollers in the other set. y

The impeller is of hollowponstruction and has on its exterior the helical vanes 38. An enlargement 39 on the impeller shaft is received in a suitable centering bore in the forward impeller end, and a similar enlargement lil! at the opposite end is received in a similar bore in the rear impeller head, the shaft being `secured to the impeller by screws (not shown) passing 'through flange il! into the impeller head. A suitable clearance is provided between the rear of the impeller and the rear spokes 30 to prevent a suction effect. The

housing wall 22 is provided With the straightening vanes '45 which are designed to direct incorning uid at a uniform angle through apertures d? against the helical vanes 38. 'The hub 3l has a reduced portion 46 which receives a collar t? suitmeasuring member preferably is ofthe oscillating piston type, and comprises a chamber formed :by a middle cylindrical portion 54 and cover plates 55 and 56 having cylindrical extensions 51 and 58 about their centers., the top 4plate being receved'iby a shoulder V5.9 in the casing, Vand the cover 6 holds the measuring .member in place. The lower cover has .a middle boss 6l receiving a thrust roller .62 and a pistonis located in the chamber and comprises a cylinder 53' having a middle slotted membrane 64 and stems 65 and B secured at its center; the lower stem 56 being engaged by the roller 62 is guided thereby for oscillation in the chamber, a suitable division plate being provided. A central bearing and sealing member 69 is suitably secured and sealed in the top plate of the measuring chamber and contains a bearing in which is journalled a stem 12 carrying the dog i3 at its bottom which is engaged and driven bythe upper stem E55, and stem l2 has a crank member 'M at its top. Fluid enters the meter 5l through a suitable inlet opening 'Il in the bottom plate 56, and a shielded inlet opening 15 provided in the top plate 55. At the opposite side of the division plate (not shown) with respect to inlet openings 'Il and l5, the top plate is provided with an outlet opening whereby fluid enters cover 6 after itis measured and passes to theoutlet through one or more openings 'i6 in the bottom plate of the cover which may be used to limit the rate of flow through the meter 5l. A post 'H reenforcesthe cover plate 5S. This metering unit is further disclosed in detail in the Whittaker Patent No. 2,338,152, January e, 1944. The size or area of the opening 16, by controlling the rate of flow through meter 5I,

governs the diierential pressures which in turnl control the operation of the valve to be presently described.

The upper head 55 of the measuring chamber has a bore T3 outside of the measuring chamber of meter 5l in which is journalled the upper end of shaft t9. This shaft carries a miter gear e@ which meshes with a miter gear 8| on the imfpeller shaft 36.

Within the cover member 6 at the top is located reduction gear housings and te. Housing 85 has a threaded extension 83 passing through the bottom 89 of the register drive compartment 'i and is held in place by a lock nut 92 threaded thereon. This extension serves as a stufng box through which 'extends the last spindle 93 of the gear trainfand which is sealed by suitable stuinng compressed by gland Sei. The iirst spindle Sii of the gear train carries a dog 9i which is engaged and driven by crank member le. The housing 85 is similarlysecured .in place with its iinal spindle 99 passing through a stuffing boi: H30 and its first spindle llill suitably coupled to shaft t9 by a self-'aligning separable coupling HB2 of suitable construction.

The means for translating the opera-tion of the two metering devices into units of measurement with the use of a common register includes a coordinator, shown more particularly in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings. This register driving unit includes a frame having Vrigidly connected vertically spaced plates and Het suitably mounted in the extension 'I of the housing or casing cover 6. In these frame plates, the spindies d3 and S9 are journalled. The upper plate HiB carries a centrally located bearing HV1 for the register driving shaft or spindle IUS which yis journalled at its lower end in the frame plate it.

The housing IGS of ya one-way clutch has a hub portion lli) loosely surrounding the lower end of the shaft |08 and is keyed or pinned to gear Hi in mesh with the V.pinion 'l I2 iixed to the shaft or spindle de. The multiple Aarmed clutch dog H3 is pinned -to the driving .shaft m8, as indicated at H4, Within the housing It and provides a plurality of pockets for the clutch rollers H5. Thus in the rotation of the housing m9 in the direction .indicated by the arrow in Figures,

said rollers coact with the dogl H3 to transmit rotation from the spindle 99 connected with the large flow meter, to the shaft or spindle |08.

A second clutch housing II6 rotates within an opening 'I I1 in the top frame plate |06 and has a hub portion loosely surrounding the shaft |08 and keyed or pinned to the gear I |8 in mesh with the gear H9 fixed to the spindle 93. Within the housing II6 the clutch dog |20 is pinned to the shaft |08 as at |2I and is of similar form to the dog I I3 to be engaged by clutch rollers Within the housing, whereby rotation will be transmitted to the drive shaft |08 from spindle 93 connected to the small flow meter, independently of the clutch housing |09. It will thus be understood that the shaft |08 will be driven by the clutch housings |09 and H6 depending upon which one of said housings is rotating at the higher speed.

The register device |40, suitably mounted upon the cover extension 1, includes a vertical shaft |38 having a dog I 31 on its lower end engaged with an arm |39 suitably fixed to the upper end of the shaft |08.

The operation of the apparatus so far described will now be explained. Fluid entering the inlet 2 is directed by the straightening vanes 45 against the helical vanes 38 of the impeller to rotate the impeller member 31, this rotation being transmitted by shaft 36, miter gears 8| and 80 to shaft 49, and through coupling member |02 and through the gear train in casing 85 to the spindle 99. Fluid that passes the impeller 31 passes upward through the positive meter 5| and discharges from the exit opening (not shown) into the cover member 6 and continues through opening 16 to the outlet side of ythe housing, and in doing so oscillates the piston in the meter whereby stem 65 rotates shaft 12, which through the coupling 14, 91 operates the gear train in housing 86 to drive the spindle 93. It is assumed that the orifice 5 is closed and thus all the flow passes through the chamber |3 and the positive meter 5|. Assuming the amount of flow is so small that the rotation of impeller 31 will not bear an accurate relationship thereto, the meter 5I will accurately measure the iiow therethrough, and the register driving shaft |38 will be driven by the faster moving clutch housing H6, the gearing relationship between the two metering elements being suitably selected for this purpose.

The opening 5 provides an internal shoulder or step I50= to receive a flanged seat member |5| having a circular insert |52, of suitable material such as neoprene, to form a seat. Avalve member |53, in the form of a rectangular plate accurately machined on its interior face |54, is adapted to engage the seat |52 and is held in position by arms |55 and |56 secured to the ends of a spindle |51 passing through a suitable bore in the valve member, and at their opposite ends the arms are journalled on a spindle |59 passing through the housing and held in position by nuts |60 and sealing washers I6I (Figure 2). The valve member may be inserted from the top of the casing. The center of spindle |51 preferably coincides substantially with the horizontal axis of the bore |65 in the valve seat member |5| or its slightly above, and the arms |55 and |56 are of greater length than the horizontal projected distance between the shafts I 51 and |59 when the valve is in closed position. The center of shaft I 51 preferably is forward of a median plane parallel to the side faces of the valve member. Thus the weight of the valve develops a horizontal force component causing the arms seat member |5| to eliminate-metal to ymetal con.

tact between the valve 53'and said seat'member. The small area of contact between the valve and insert |52V avoids the possibility of a retarded opening of the valve with a small clearancebe-L tween the valve and member |5| whichv would result in a high velocity of flow with a suction effect, tending to cause chatter and delayed opening of the valve. j

The upperend of the valve member has a slot |66 which receives a guide spindle |61 extending through the casing and held in place by nuts I 68 and sealing washers |69. `This spindle |61 and guide slot |66 are arranged so that arms |55 and |56 may hold the valve against its seat, the required play being provided between spindle |61 and slot I 66 to allow proper seating of the valve. 'I'he distance between shafts |59 and |61 is greater than the distance between shafts |59 and |51,

Aand when the pressure of incoming fluid is sucient to slightly open the valve, arms. I 55 and |56 commence to rotate about their pivot |59 as indicated by the dot and dash line, to pivot valve member |53 about shaft |61 as a sliding pivot to open the valve slightly. In effect the valve member mounting provides a toggle biased by the weight of the valve, and after the pivot points |59, |51, and I 61 pass through the` alignment position, which is approximately 45 from the vertical, a progressively decreasing force is required to further open the valve. This is due to the fact that the moment ofthe weight of the valve relative to the moment of the applied force is constantly changing owing to the unbalanced mounting of the valve between the arms |55 and |56 and its sliding pivotal support at I 61. When the valve reaches thefully open position the housing I acts as a stop by engaging the corners of the valve, and it is substantially horizontal and will not interfere with the flow of uid from orifice 5 to the outlet 3.

The operation of the complete apparatus now will be described. Assuming'a small flow of liquid, the valve |53 will be in closed position, and all the liquid will pass throughl the impeller 31 to rotate it, and will pass upwardlythrough the positive meter 5| to oscillate the impeller or piston thereof and clutch housing H6 will drive the register. The impeller 31 and shaft 49 will not drive the register because'the clutch housing |09 'driven thereby is moving at a slower rate of speed than clutch housing I6. When the flow increases in volume to the extent that the impeller 31 can accurately measure the flow, and the flow is still below the maximum capacity of the positive meter 5 I, the clutchhousings |09 and I I6 will be driven at substantially'the-same speed and the register then may be regarded as being driven by both meters, although if Ythere is aslight differencefin accuracy of measurement between the two meters, the faster moving clutch housing will drive the register. If the owstill further increases the valve |53 will be opened to allow the liquid to ow directly to outlet 3.VV This movement of valve |53 occurs when the rate of flow is such that impeller 31 will accurately measure the now, and that part of the ow which passes through the positive meter 5 I will not affect the accuracy of registration because all the liquid flows through the impeller 31 before it enters the Vthe inlet zandaou'tlet.

meterl Theforcezrequired to.mo've'valvev 1'53 frcm'closed position is the liquid; pressure head of predetermined value. Thereafter, the' changing leverarm and vthe weight :of the valve above pivot/161 vassists inopening the lvalve further', and after the 'aligned pivot positicnis reached .itrrequires fonly -a comparatively ,slight iuid .pressure to `move the valve to substantially horizontal position where it will not obstruct the flow between lt `willlb'e noticed that at the changeover point where the positive meter 'I ceases tdmeasure the full flow, there is no'change inaccuracy. because the full flow always passes through theimp'eller 37 and once theiflow has reached that rate where impeller 31 will'accurately measure it, there is considerable .leeway' for timing the opening .of valve .I53,because there is an overlap of the accurate capacities .of the positive meter' 5l and the impeller .31. There is thus .provided a compact structurein which the .lowvolume vand high volume meters aregc'ombinedin'a single housing connected into the :dow line so 'that all lthe parts may readily be removed-'without taking the casing out of the flow line, and the loss of Vhead through the meter is decreased. vThe impeller is mounted in hard rubber roller bea-rings which are lubricated by the vliquid being measured and-as the impeller axis is in horizontal v.position no `change in the direction of flow of the liquid inthe housing is required until after the liquid has passed through the impeller.

The mounting and arrangement of the large and small meters with the register drive mechanism in closely superposed relation is .a very important practical feature ofr the invention. Withthe small flow meter unit'directly above the large flow unit, a common housing-structure of simple design can be utilized, providing a very compact assembly of minimum size and weight. This results in economical use of materials with maximum ease and facilityof installation. 'It also directly contributes to a greatly simplified ccnnection between the meter units and the registering mechanism involving only the use of a single set of beveled gears, .materially simplifies .the internal passageways to allow free flow or" the liquid through the meters 'withiminimum restriction, and facilitates rapid production with a corresponding reduction in cost.

The subject matterof this .application is .a con- 1 tinuation-in-part of a pending application "for patent onA Compound -Meter., led November ll, 1943, Serial No. 508,888, now United States Le*- ters Patent No. v2,425,720 issued August 19, 1947.

The invention'may be embodied in other specie forms Without departing from the spirit' or essential characteristics thereof. 1 The present embodimentsare thereforeto be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather'than by the foregoing description, and all :changes which come within the meaning and range of .equivalency of the claims are therefore .intended tol be embraced therein.

What is claimed .and ldesired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An anti-friction bearing assembly for a Water actuated rotor coaxially mounted in a water conduit, saidassembly comprising a vcage memrubber shaft bearing rollers between said webs of greater diameter than the shaft supported thereby, said end walls of the'cage each being provided with 'an .outer bearing race. to `permit free axial flow .of Water vinto the .cage `.between and in con- .tact with 'the bearing rollers.

2, 'In .a water meter assembly, substantially horizontal Water actuated meter rotor having a shaft and driven by the'metered Water, an antifriction bearing assembly therefor adapted to "be lubricated by metered water comprising a plurality of hard rubber bearing rollers arranged between the rotor shaft .and an outer lbearing race, and retaining said rollers in'ci-rcumerentially spaced relation for individual relative rotation, means including relatively rigid parts at opposite ends-of the rollers peentrance of the Water therethrough for o1. tion along the shaft and rollers.

'3. In a water meter assembly, a substantially horizontal fluid meter rotor driven by the water to be nieteredand having aligned shafts projecting from opposite ends, and a bearing assembly for supporting each shaft comprising aV cage containing a plurality of hard rubber rollers maintained in circumferentially spaced positions about the shaft, said cage, shalt and rollers having associated relative clearances permitting the entrance and distribution of water beingY .metered forlubrioating the bearing assembly.

4'. in a Water meter assembly, asubs'tantiaily horizontal Water actuated meter vrotor having a shaft and driven by the metered water, an yantiirictionbearing assembly therefor comprising a plurality of hard rubber bearing rollers arranged between the rotor shaft and an outer bearing race, said rollers being Ipointed at their opposite ends, a cage for maintaining said rollers Vin circumferentially spaced positions about said shaft comprising end parte vhaving centered shaft receiving openings, webs of substantially triangular section extending between said parts and adapted to engage said rollers, said webs terminating at their inner edge in a line substantially parallel with said shaft and displaced a substantial distance therefrom, said webs joining said end parts in radially extending arcuate 'sections adapted to engage the pointed ends of said rollers for guiding said rollers for limited bodily movement to and away from said shaft While preventing 'longitudinal displacement of rollers.

WiiLlAM V. ELLIOTT, Administrator of the Estate .of Charles B. Bergman, Deceased.

aerea-micas errno The following references .are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name K vDate 394,312 Tanner Bec. 11, 188.8 592,053 Hunt Oct, 19, 1897 771,826 Lohse Oct. 1l, 1904 934,504 -Connet Sept. 21, V1909 997,573 Michaud July 11, 1911 l,4.37,932V Olsen June v5, 1923 1,646,624 McKenna Oct. 25, l1927 2,270,141 Potter 1.3, 1942 2,495,069 Freeman -g. Aug. 2i), 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date .531,211 France Jan. 9, 1922 

